ISLAMABAD: Majority of participants at a dialogue on Thursday were of the view that there should be a party-based local government system across the country and funds should be given to the local bodies to strengthen democracy and the federation.

The event was organised by Pakistan Institute of Legislative Development and Transparency (Pildat) at a local hotel.

Former PPP senator Farhatullah Babar said the Sindh local government law was being revisited to address all concerns of political parties.

He said this when Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM)’s Mohammad Hussain complained that in Sindh all powers were with the provincial government and the local government was limited to issuance of marriage, birth and death certificates. Mr Hussain said the local government should be given all powers to address issues at the grassroots level.

Mr Babar said according to Article 140 of the Constitution provinces can make their own laws so it was not binding on them to make the same law.

“However, I agree that parliamentarians should not be responsible for development. In Punjab, development grants are being given to MPAs which is not a right thing and should be reconsidered. Fiscal transfers should be direct from the provincial finance commission to the local government,” he said.

Representative of PTI Punjab Ayaz Asif said Prime Minister Imran Khan was committed to empowering the local government system and the first draft of the LG system in Punjab would be shared with the public in May.

“We want to replicate the model of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in Punjab and considering holding direct but non-party based elections for village councils and indirect but party-based elections for tehsil councils,” he said

Representative of Awami National Party Sardar Hussain Babak said elections should be held on party basis.

“It is a fact that our political system has been weakened by holding non-party based elections. I have heard that in KP condition of education is being introduced for contesting local government elections,” he said.

But Khyber Pakhtunkhwa minister Shahram Tarakai said it was not correct.

“There is no such condition for parliamentarians so how it can be introduced for local government representatives. We are introducing a two-tier system in which there will be village and tehsil councils but no district councils,” he said.

Representative of National Party Mir Kabeer Ahmed said proposals should be sought from political parties to make the local bodies law.

“After coming into power in 2013, despite the issue of terrorism we held the local government elections in Balochistan and it was not only appreciated by political parties but also by the Supreme Court. Now the Election Commission of Pakistan wants to hold local bodies elections but the Balochistan government has approached court and wants to delay the elections. As provinces get funds through National Finance Commission (NFC) they should transfer it through provincial finance commission to local bodies,” he said.

PML-N MPA from Punjab Mehwish Sultana said there should be continuity in the local government system.

“Moreover, there should be either a party-based or non-party based system,” she said.

Representative of Balochistan National Party (BNP-M) Dr Jehanzeb Jamaldini said controlled governments were made in Balochistan.

“In just one day parties are formed in Balochistan and their devoted voters also born the same day,” he said.

Published in Dawn, March 15th, 2019